Dual function motor key for calculators

ABSTRACT

A dual function motor key for calculators has a setting mechanism, such as a pin carriage, having a home position and a value position and mounted for movement, from one position to the other. A key, such as a dividend input key, is mounted to be depressed and initiate an operating step, and a latch is movably mounted on the key for a movement with it. A program control member is operatively connected to the setting mechanism to sense its position when the key is depressed; and is operatively connected to the latch to actuate the latch and hold the key in its depressed position until the operating step is concluded when the setting mechanism is in its value position. When the setting mechanism is in its home position, the program control member does not actuate the latch and the key is permitted to move out of its depressed position during the operating step. In this manner, if a value is sensed in the setting mechanism, it is first fed into the appropriate register before the contents of that register are produced. If there is no value in the setting mechanism, the contents of the appropriate register are merely produced at once.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Klaus Korte Wilhelmshaven, Germany [21] Appl. No. 19,385 [22] Filed Mar. 13, 1970 [45] Patented Aug. 17, 1971 [73] Assignee Olympia Werke AG Wilhelmshaven, Germany [32] Priority Mar. 14, 1969 [33] Germany [31] P 19 13 069.9

[54] DUAL FUNCTION MOTOR KEY FOR CALCULATORS 7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 235/60.49, 235/60 R, 235/63 E [51] Int. Cl G06c 21/02 [50] Field of Search 235/60.49, 60.47, 60 R, 27, 63 E, 63 F, 145 R [56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,861 ,746 11/1958 Anderson.... 235/62 F 3,042,300 7/1962 Anderson 235/62 F 3,069,077 12/1962 Rosati 235/60 TK Primary Examiner-Stephen J. Tomsky Attorney-Spencer & Kaye 235/60 R 235/60 MT ABSTRACT: A dual function motor key for calculators has a setting mechanism, such as a pin carriage, having a home position and a value position and mounted for movement, from one position to the other. A key, such as a dividend input key, is mounted to be depressed and initiate an operating step, and a latch is movably mounted on the key for a movement with it. A program control member is operatively connected to the setting mechanism to sense its position when the key is depressed; and is operatively connected to the latch to actuate the latch and hold the key in its depressed position until the operating step is concluded when the setting mechanism is in its value position. When the setting mechanism is in its home position, the program control member does not actuate the latch and the key is permitted to move out of its depressed position during the operating step. in this manner, if a value is sensed in the setting mechanism, it is first fed into the appropriate register before the contents of that register are produced. it" there is no value in the setting mechanism, the contents of the appropriate register are merely produced at once.

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FIG. I

INVENTOR Klaus Korfe ATTORNEYS.

PATENTEUAUGI-HIQYI SHEET 2 BF 3 'IIIIIIIIIIIv -Hunuun UUUUUUUUU FIG. 2

INVENTOR Klaus Korte BY W ATTORNEYS.

DUAL FUNCTION MOTOR KEY FOR CALCULATORS I BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a dual function motor key, for calculators having a setting mechanism which can be moved laterally from a rest position into a value position, by which the machine can be controlled, when the key is actuated, so that in the one position of the setting mechanism a counter receives a value and in the other position of the setting mechanism either a sum total or subtotal readout of the counter is initiated. v

A known controllable function motor key of the abovementioned type is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,318,519 to P. Thevis, issued May 9,1967, and is so constructed that it can close a motor contact only when the setting mechanism is in the one position. This motor key actually does not perform a dual function, because in the other position of the setting mechanism the motor key participates only indirectly in a second function in cooperation with a further key.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In contradistinction thereto, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dual function motor key which at every depression closes either a motor contact or a clutch independently of the position of the setting mechanism, and which, moreover, not only initiates depending on the position of the setting mechanism different function, but also, in the one position of the setting mechanism, automatically initiates two consecutive, different, working steps. I

According to the present invention, this object is accomplished in that a latch cooperating with the key is coupled with a program control member which senses the position of the setting mechanism when the key is depressed, so that this latch can be set into one of two positions. In the one position it holds the key, which initiates a working step, in the depressed position until the working step is completed, whereas in the other position it releases the key during the working step.

The dual function motor key can be a dividend input key whose latch holds the key in its depressed position when the setting mechanism is in the appropriate position where the program control member is set to feed in a value, and releases the key when the setting mechanism is in rest position where the program control member is set to produce a subtotal.

The dual function motor key is so constructed that, depending on the position of the setting mechanism, depression of the key causes the following functions to be performed automatically:

l. If the setting mechanism is in a value position, it controls the program control member to feed in a value, i.e. the value is put into the counter. Thereafter, the setting mechanism is returned to its rest position in a known manner. Since the key remains latched in its depressed position, a second operating step follows. During this second operating step, the setting mechanism which had been returned to its rest position and the reset program control member draw a subtotal from the counter which is identified as the dividend and is held in readiness. If the counter was empty at the time the key was depressed, the dividend is equal to the value fed to the setting mechanism.

2. If the setting mechanism is in its rest position, such as after completion of a multiplication, only the subtotal readout operating step is initiated, and the subtotal in the counter is used immediately as the dividend and is so identified.

This means that the dual function motor key according to the present invention can never lead to erroneous results due to operating errors, since the dividend with which the machine calculates is printed when it is drawn as the subtotal.

In order to set the latch into one of its two positions, a further embodiment of the present invention provides that the latch joined to the key is provided with a spring and a guide path by means of which it slides along a pin on the program control member when the setting mechanism is in its one position and the key is depressed.

Setting the latch into the other position is advisably accomplished by a blocking latch for the program control member. This blocking latch is connected to and movable with the key by means of a spring, the blocking latch being held in its inactive position by the setting mechanism when the setting mechanism is in its rest position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a side elevation view, partly in cross section, of an undepressed dual function motor key with a latch which can be engaged in a detent of the machine housing in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation view, partly in cross section of a second embodiment of a dual function key according to the present invention with a latch which can be engaged in a movable blocking member,

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a dual function motor key 1 disposed to move vertically in a key guide sheet 1 and a ball block 3. Block 3 is provided in a known manner for a plurality of keys and permits the depression of only one key at a time. A suitable reset spring 4 tends to return key return key into its initial position shown in FIG. 1; which position is defined by a suitable abutment 5 rigidly mounted on the machine housing by any suitable, known means.

A latch 7 is pivotally mounted on a pin 6 which is integral with key 1 and is urged in a counterclockwise direction by a spring 8. Latch 7 is provided with a guide surface 9 and a depression 90, by means of which it bears against a bolt 10 which is integral with a program control member 11. Member 11 is pivotally mounted on an axis 12 rigidly mounted to the machine housing. Between the program control member 11 and key 1, a tension spring 13 is connected to tend to pull bolt 10 of the program control member 11 against a protrusion 14 of key -1. Latch 7 is further provided with a tongue 15 which can'engage abutments 5 from below when key 1 is depressed.

The program control member 11 may cooperate with a blocking latch 16, which is pivotally mounted on a stationary axis 17 and is biased by a suitable spring 18. The blocking latch 16 is controlled by a setting mechanism which is constructed in the form of a pin carriage 19 and which is held in its rest or home position illustrated in FIG. 1 by a known stepping mechanism 20. In the home position of the pin carriage 19, the blocking bolt 16 is in its inactive or home position in which the program control member 11 is not blocked. When one of the number keys (not shown) is operated, the member 20' of the stepping mechanism 20 is released in a known manner in the direction of arrow 21, so that the pin carriage l9 can take up any one of a plurality of value positions as a result of the force exerted by a spring 22. The exact position will depend on the number of the keys actuated. In each value position of the pin carriage 19, the blocking latch 16 pivots counterclockwise into its active position in which the program member 11 is held locked in the position shown in FIG. 1.

The program control member 11 is provided with an abutment 23 having twosteps 24 and 25. A horizontally disposed program control pusher 26 is released at the beginning of each operating step and, thus, slides over one of steps 24 or 25 of the program control member 11 by means of a protrusion 27. A spring 28 moves the pusher 26. Toward the end of each operating step, the program control pusher 26 is returned to its illustrated starting position. A known sensor member 30 is disposed for reciprocative movement parallel to the plane of the double arrow 29, which member can either move into a recess 31 or about the lower surface 32 of pusher 26, depending on the position of the pusher 26 and, thus, control the calculator to produce a subtotal. The program control pusher 26 and sensing member 30 per se, shown in the drawings of the of an elongated slot 40a and so as to actuate a motor switch 41. A cam 420 on a cam plate 42, which rotates once with shaft 43 during each machine operation, returns the switching member 40 into the position shown in FIG. 1 by means of a bolt 44, and opens the motor switch 41.

The dual function motor key shown in FIG. 1 operates as follows:- Let it be assumed that the pin carriage 19 is in a value position, i.e. that a value has been fed into it. The blocking latch 16 is thus pivoted under the influence of spring 18 in a counterclockwise direction and blocks the program control member 11 in the position shown in FIG. 1. (see the full line position of FIG. 2) When key 1 is depressed, the guide surface 9 of latch 7 slides along bolt 10 of the program control member 11 until the depression 9a comes to lie opposite bolt 10. Latch 7 is then pivoted counterclockwise under the influence of spring 8 and is latched by its tongue 15 to the abutment 5. Thus, key 1 is held in its depressed position. At the same time, key 1 pivots lever 34 downward. The frontal face of lever 34 slides off blocking member 35 which pivots clockwise into a blocking position and places itself with its extension 38 above protrusion 39 of key 1. The switching member 40, jointed to blocking member 35, is lifted and moved somewhat toward the left with its upper end so that motor switch 41 is closed. Since the program control pusher 26 places its protrusion 27 against step 24 of the program control member 11, the sensing member 30 moves into recess 31 of the pusher 26. The calculator is, thus, controlled for a value input'; i.e., the value fed into pin carriage 19 is entered into an appropriate register.

The cam plate 42, rotating clockwise, presses switching member 40 downward by means of its cam 42a during the second half of this operating step, so that the blocking member 35 is pivoted counterclockwise into its release position and its protrusion 38 releases key 1. Key 1, however, is held in the depressed position by latch 7 which is restrained by abutment 5, in which position lever 34 is also pivoted downward. The blocking member 35 immediately pivots back into its blocking position in which its protrusion 38 places itself over protrusion 39 of key 1. Immediately thereafter, the pin carriage 19 is returned to its home positionin a known manner.

Since key 1 is held in its depressed position by the blocking member 35 which has been pivoted clockwise, a second operating step follows automatically. The pin carriage 19, which has returned to its rest position, brings the blocking latch 16 into its inoperative position, (FIG. 1) where the program control member 11 is freely movable. Spring 13 pivots the program control member 11 counterclockwise until its bolt 10 places itself on the protrusion 14 of the depressed key 1. Thus, bolt 10 pivots clockwise over the recess 9a and onto the guide surface 9 of latch 7, so that tongue 15 moves free of abutment 5 and key 1 is held only by protrusion 38 of the blocking member 35.

In this new position of program control member 11, the program control pusher 26 feels over step 25 of the program control member 11.- The sensing member 30 is reciprocative parallel to the plane of arrow 29 and is stopped after a short stretch of its upward stroke by the lower surface 32 of pusher 26, so that production of a subtotal from the register is now initiated.

During this second operating step, the blocking member 35 is pivoted by the movement of cam 42a of cam plate 42 over bolt 44 and switches member 40, again counterclockwise, into its release position. Thus, key 1 is released and is returned into its starting position by reset spring 4. At the same time the program control member 11 is reset, via protrusion 14 of key 1 and lever 34 under the bias of spring 18, into'the initial positions shown in FIG. 1. This causes the frontal face of lever 34 to place itself in front of blocking member 35, which is, thus, held in its illustrated position in which the motor switch 41 also remains open.

The described dual function motor key 1 thus initiates two consecutive operating steps, which, in dependence on the position of the pin carriage 19 are different. If the dual function motor key 1 serves as a dividend input key, the dividend can be formed from a plurality of values and can be printed. When key 1 is actuated, the last value punched is fed into the register, added to a value already present, and the subtotal is then drawn from the register automatically, is identified as dividend and held in readiness. If the register was empty when key 1 was depressed, the dividend is equal to the value fed into pin carriage 19.

Let it now be assumed that the pin carriage is in its rest position, e.g., after a multiplication. In this case, a subtotal drawing operation step is to be initiated, and the subtotal in the register is to be used immediately as the dividend and so identified. When key 1 is depressed, the program control member 11 is carried along by spring 13, since the blocking latch is in its inactive position as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the guide surface 9 of latch 7 remains at rest opposite bolt 10 of the program control member 11, so that latch 7 can not engage in abutment 5. The depressed key 1 is held only by blocking member 35, which engages after key 1 has pivoted lever 34 downwardly and the protrusion 38 of blocking member 35 has placed itself over protrusion 39. At the same time, the switching member 40 closes a motor switch 41. Since the program control pusher 26 with its flap 27 places itself against step 25 of the program control member 11, the sensing member 30 feels the lower edge 32 of the pusher 26 and the drawing of a subtotal from the register is initiated.

Toward the end of the operating step, the blocking member 35 releases key 1, and all movable components return to their initial position, as shown inFIG. l.

The arrangement of the dual function motor key shown in FIG. 2 differs fromthat of the dual function motor key shown in FIG. 1 only in a few features, and only the differing portions will, therefore, be discussed. The latch 7' disposed at key I of FIG. 2 is provided with a tongue 15 which cooperates with the protrusion 38 of blocking member 35. Latch 7' is, moreover, provided with an elongated opening 7a through which the bolt 10 of the program control member ll'passes. The right side of opening 7a is constructed as a guide surface 9' with a recess 9a. The sensing member 30', which is reciprocative parallel to the plane of the double arrow 29' in a manner similar to that of member 30, cooperates with a protrusion 11a of program control member 11' and senses the position of the latter.

The operation of the dual function motor key shown in FIG. 2 is as follows:

Let it first be again assumed that the pin carriage 19 is in its value position, as shown in full lines (FIGS. 2). The blocking latch 16' is biased by a spring 18a and holds the program control member 11' in its illustra ted full line position. When key 1' is depressed, guide surface 9 of latch 7' slides along bolt 10 of the program control member 11' until recess 9a comes to lie opposite bolt 10 (shown in full lines in FIG. 2). The force of spring 8 pivots latch 7 around pin 6 in a clockwise direction, so that tongue 15' of latch 7' is moved toward the left. At the same time, key 1 presses lever 34' downwardly againstthe force of spring 18b by means of bolt 33, which lever 34 slides off blocking member 35 and the blocking member 35 is then pivoted about axis 37 clockwise to its blocking position by the force of spring 36. Thus, protrusion 38 is moved toward the right over tongue 15' of latch 7. Key 1' is now blocked in the depressed position.

The closed motor switch 41 now initiates an operating step. Since the sensing member 30' places itself against the protrusion 11a of the program control member 11', the register of the calculator is set for value input. During the second half of the operating step, the cam 42a of cam plate 42 pivots blocking member 35 counterclockwise into its release position. Since, however, latch 7 was pivoted clockwise, a separation between protrusion 38 and tongue 15' does not take place. Key 1 remains blocked in its depressed position. Since lever 34 is also in its lower position outside of the range of movement of blocking member 35, the blocking member 35 pivots clockwise under the force of spring 36 into its blocking position, after cam plate 42 has moved on due to its kinetic energy and cam 42a has released bolt 44. At the end of the first operating step, the pin carriage '19 is returned to its home position, which is indicated by broken lines in FIG. 2. Thus, the blocking latch 16 is pivoted, which releases the program control member 11', which in turn pivoted by the force of spring 13 in a counterclockwise direction about the axis 12. Bolt then leaves the recess 9a and comes into guide path 9', so that latch 7' is pivoted counterclockwise. The tongue 15, which is then moved to the right, does not leave the effective range of protrusion 38, however, since blocking member 35 is already back in its blocking position, and the motor contact 41 is closed.

During the immediately following second operating step, the sensing member controls the register to produce a subtotal, since the program control member 1 1' has been released by blocking latch 16'. The cam plate 42 with its cam 42a finally pivots blocking member counterclockwise into its release position, so that a separation now occurs between protrusion 38 and tongue 15 and key 1' is returned to its initial position by force of the spring 4. Since lever 34' now also follows upwardly, the blocking member 35 is held in its release position, in which the motor contact 41 remains open. The program control member 11' is also carried along by the lower end of recess 7a via bolt 10 into the position shown in 'F IG. 2.

If the pin carriage 19' is in its rest position and key 1 is depressed, the unblocked program control member 11 is pivoted counterclockwise by the force of spring 13. The register is immediately controlled by sensing member 30' to produce a subtotal. When key 1 is depressed, bolt 10 of program control member 11' remains in the lower portion of recess 7a, so that the latch 7' is brought downward approximately vertically. After blocking member 35 has been released by lever 34, key 1 is blocked for only one operating step in the manner of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dual function motor key for calculators comprising, in combination:

a. setting means having a home position and a value position and mounted for movement from one position to the other;

key means mounted to be depressed and initiate an operating step;

c. latch means movably mounted on said key means for movement with said key means; and

d. program control means operatively connected to said setting means to sense the position of said setting means when said key means is depressed, and operatively connected to said latch means to actuate said latch means and hold said key means in its depressed position until the operating step is concluded when said setting means is in its value position, and to permit said key means to be movable out of its depressed position during the operating step when said setting means is in its home position.

2. A key as defined in claim 1, further including blocking latch means for retaining said program control means when said setting means is in its value position, and first resilient means connecting said program control means to said key means for movement therewith.

3. A key as define in claim 2, wherein said latch means 18 pivotally mounted to said key means, and further including second resilient means connected between said key means and said latch means for biasing said latch means pivotally with respect to said key means, and wherein said program control means has a protruding pin member and said latch means defines a guide surface which is constantly kept in contact with said pin member by means of said second resilient means.

4. A key as define in claim 3, wherein said key means is a dividend input key and said latch means retains said dividend input key in its depressed position when said setting means is in its value position to control said program control means for value input to an appropriate register, and said latch means releases said dividend input key from its depressed position when said setting means is in its home position to control the program control means for producing a subtotal from an appropriate register.

5. A key as defined in claim 4, wherein said key means has a protruding portion, and further including blocking member means having a retaining position and a release position and mounted for movement from one position to the other to engage said protruding portion of said key means and retain said key means in its depressed position when said blocking member means is in its retaining position.

6. A key as defined in claim 4, further including fixed abutment means ,and wherein said latch means has a tongue which engages said abutment means to hold said key means in its depressed position when said key means is depressed and said setting means is in its value position.

7. A device as defined in claim 5, wherein said latch means has a protruding member, which cooperates with said blocking member means to hold said key means in its depressed position when said blocking member means is in both its retaining position and release position and said setting means is in its value position. 

1. A dual function motor key for calculators comprising, in combination: a. setting means having a home position and a value position and mounted for movement from one position to the other; key means mounted to be depressed and initiate an operating step; c. latch means movably mounted on said key means for movement with said key means; and d. program control means operatively connected to said setting means to sense the position of said setting means when said key means is depressed, and operatively connected to said latch means to actuate said latch means and hold said key means in its depressed position until the operating step is concluded when said setting means is in its value position, and to permit said key means to be movable out of its depressed position during the operating step when said setting means is in its home position.
 2. A key as defined in claim 1, further including blocking latch means for retaining said program control means when said setting means is in its value position, and first resilient means connecting said program control means to said key means for movement therewith.
 3. A key as define in claim 2, wherein said latch means is pivotally mounted to said key means, and further including second resilient means connected between said key means and said latch means for biasing said latch means pivotally with respect to said key means, and wherein said program control means has a protruding pin member and said latch means defines a guide surface which is constantly kept in contact with said pin member by means of said second resilient means.
 4. A key as define in claim 3, wherein said key means is a dividend input key and said latch means retains said dividend input key in its depressed position when said setting means is in its value position to control said program control means for value input to an appropriate register, and said latch means releases said dividend input key from its depressed position when said setting means is in its home position to control the program control means for producing a subtotal from an appropriate register.
 5. A key as defined in claim 4, wherein said key means has a protruding portion, and further including blocking member means having a retaining position and a release position and mounted for movement from one position to the other to engage said protruding portion of said key means and retain said key means in its depressed position when said blockinG member means is in its retaining position.
 6. A key as defined in claim 4, further including fixed abutment means ,and wherein said latch means has a tongue which engages said abutment means to hold said key means in its depressed position when said key means is depressed and said setting means is in its value position.
 7. A device as defined in claim 5, wherein said latch means has a protruding member, which cooperates with said blocking member means to hold said key means in its depressed position when said blocking member means is in both its retaining position and release position and said setting means is in its value position. 